Kent businessman in French court

Several of OCT's French staff were in court on Monday

A Kent businessman, criticised by the French President for the way he closed his factory near Paris without telling his workers, has appeared in court.

Paul Welch used to run Optical Cable Technology, based near Maidstone, but sparked ourage when he laid off 15 workers at the firm's French plant.

His former employees attended the court hearing in Evry urging compensation.

Mr Welch told the court that he had not broken French law because his company was British.

Staff at court

Mr Welch was detained by French police on 23 February after the firm's 15 staff arrived at work in Dourdan, near Paris, to find an empty building with equipment removed.

They each found a letter in their pigeonhole telling them they had been made redundant.

Under French employment law, employers are required to give staff two months' notice of closure and a compensation package if a business ceases trade for economic reasons.

Six staff were also made redundant at the company's Kent base

Workers are unable to claim benefits unless a firm is formally put into liquidation.

The French president Jacques Chirac described the way Mr Welch closed the company as "outrageous".

Many of the French staff were at the court on Monday to call for compensation.

Some were hoping to confront Mr Welch for the first time since being made redundant, but he entered the building through a back entrance.

The workers are due to hear on Tuesday whether the company has been put into liquidation.

If that happens the French government will pay them money they are owed.

Six staff at the firm's headquarters in Sutton Valence, near Maidstone, and employees at its Singapore office also lost their jobs.